en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/733048 Comments by AshteadRay http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/an-interview-for-the-football-trader/#IDComment295163064 I'd taken my two daughters to see that game as their first trip to see the Hammers. Strict instructions to them not to cheer if we scored as we were in a Man U stand, so what did I do when we scored. Did I get some stick from about 10,000 Man U fans. They told me in no uncertain terms where I should be sitting...but the two daughters are, of course, now ardent WH followers. Anyone know what happened to the Norwegian centre half who had a blinder that day? Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:10:59 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/an-interview-for-the-football-trader/#IDComment295163064 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/an-interview-for-the-football-trader/#IDComment295158998 Not sure I agree Roy. My earliest recollection of Budgie was a game against Arsenal...Ian Ure put him into the chicken run near me after about five minutes and he then disappeared for the rest of the game. He was good, but didn't like the rough stuff enough to qualify as a West Ham great in my opinion. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:03:53 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/17/an-interview-for-the-football-trader/#IDComment295158998 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/01/vote-player-performances-v-ipswich-2/#IDComment281192139 The team I would play against Millwall (assuming fit): ------------------Green----------------- Demel--Tomkins--Reid---Taylor ------------------Diop------------------ Faubert- -----Noble-- ---Vaz Te -----------Baldock---Maynard--------- Subs: Faye Collison Nolan Cole Lansbury Too adventurous? Wed, 1 Feb 2012 22:01:23 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/01/vote-player-performances-v-ipswich-2/#IDComment281192139 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/01/18/transfer-update-wednesday-18th-january/#IDComment269650244 Are you suggesting that we should take anything Braderz says with a pinch of salt then? Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:54:55 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/01/18/transfer-update-wednesday-18th-january/#IDComment269650244 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2011/12/11/results-player-performances-v-reading/#IDComment237303840 Love it. Presumably we'll also try to get some dark energy when training to take into night games (will the dark matter?) and adopt a string theory defence! Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:45:24 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2011/12/11/results-player-performances-v-reading/#IDComment237303840 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2011/12/02/in-praise-of-julien-faubert/#IDComment231845486 When he first came to West Ham I was mightily impressed by his ability to cross the ball whilst "bending it like Beckham"; No defence likes a ball whipped in from wide positions that is going away from the goal and towards incoming forwards. Being played at right back negated this but it did teach him what is expected from the defensive duties of the wide midfield position. Now he is rediscovering his ability to get forward and is also very strong when getting back and covering. Long may it continue. Fri, 2 Dec 2011 21:59:04 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2011/12/02/in-praise-of-julien-faubert/#IDComment231845486 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/08/01/could-we-really-stomach-the-return-of-bellamy/#IDComment90198468 Actually, I think it's the rate at which some of the South American currencies devalued some years ago! Sun, 1 Aug 2010 21:07:35 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/08/01/could-we-really-stomach-the-return-of-bellamy/#IDComment90198468 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/03/29/zola-to-stay-in-post/#IDComment64590632 Well, despite the defeat on Saturday, the target hasn’t changed: I still reckon that we need 10 points from our remaining games to be safe and can see us beating Wigan and Sunderland and Fulham and getting a point from Man City – anything else would be a bonus. If McCarthy is not fit then we need to think about playing Diamante in his best position, in the hole behind Cole. I don’t like the guy but have also reflected on perhaps why, and have concluded that it’s probably because he has been asked to play wide right or left and put in a defensive shift occasionally – not what he was bought for methinks. I agree with SJ that we need Collison back to get some inventiveness into midfield, and he’s played well wide left when fit. Everton don’t have Fellaini available so we don’t need Kovac to start to counter his height in midfield so I’d go with: Green Faubert/Tomkins (Da Costa)/Upson/Spector (Ilunga if fit to start) Behrami/Parker/Noble/Collison (if Collison is not fit then Kovac – and play a tightly packed midfield with the full-backs asked to push up wide when they can) McCarthy (or Diamante)/Cole Subs: Kuruz, Ilunga (Spector), Gabiddon, Dyer, Stanislas, Franco, Diamante (or Mido) At the moment I’m swinging between hope (I’m an optimist) and despair but glad to be reminded by others this morning that we are neither relegated yet nor actually in the relegation places! Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:22:30 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/03/29/zola-to-stay-in-post/#IDComment64590632 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/03/26/abysmal-but-the-troops-must-be-rallied/#IDComment64174000 Good post SJ, a well-balanced summary of the frustrated posts and events that have followed Tuesday’s debacle. For tomorrow I would go with the following: Green Faubert/Gabbidon/Upson/Ilunga Behrami/Parker/Noble/Stanislas Cole/Franco With bench of Stech, Spector, Da Costa, Diamante (late on for Stanislas), McCarthy (late on for Franco), Dyer, Collison I’ve already got my umbrella up for the expected rain-shower of reaction for including Upson (and a few others!) but do think that he now has something to prove. I also feel that just making wholesale changes is not the way forward at this critical stage of the season. 10 points from our remaining games could be enough to stay up so 3 wins at home and 1 point away should do it. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:57:08 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/03/26/abysmal-but-the-troops-must-be-rallied/#IDComment64174000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/02/22/the-vetos-that-will-scupper-an-olympic-move/#IDComment58363242 The only way this that I have found is to create the message in a "word document" and then "copy all" the text and then "paste" into the box on this site (it also helps with the spellchecker!) Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:02:57 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/02/22/the-vetos-that-will-scupper-an-olympic-move/#IDComment58363242 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/19/the-goldsullivan-interviews/#IDComment52790746 I agree. Trying to estimate how much of the future has been mortgaged is an impossible task. CH was only working from published information, not from a financial forensic examination of the books. I'm sure Gilbert & Sullivan have done their due diligence and counted as much as they can to get the price down, but they are no fools, can negotiate well and I'm sure got as much counted as they could. Let's all move on and see if their deeds match their words. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:06:30 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/19/the-goldsullivan-interviews/#IDComment52790746 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/16/115000-fine-but-no-closure-of-upton-park/#IDComment52287284 In my defence this is the first time that I have suggested that we get rid of any player due to chronic injury problems. I have not "ripped into him", merely said that it's time to get rid of him. I feel for him, but this is a football club (as you rightly point out) but one where players are surely expected to be fit and available for selection for a good percentage of the season. Setting aside his broken leg, if the whole squad had his overall injury record where would we be then? Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:01:39 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/16/115000-fine-but-no-closure-of-upton-park/#IDComment52287284 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/16/115000-fine-but-no-closure-of-upton-park/#IDComment52285274 He's certainly not cheap, but he's as about as reliable as a piece of cheap furniture! I've defended him for long enough and now believe that we should cut our losses. Any business that got this return from such a large investment would have got shot long ago. Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:26:00 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/16/115000-fine-but-no-closure-of-upton-park/#IDComment52285274 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/16/115000-fine-but-no-closure-of-upton-park/#IDComment52276734 I agree, It's less than 2 weeks wages for Dyer!! Get rid of Dyer, pay the fine and move on with a net profit I say. Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:58:16 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/16/115000-fine-but-no-closure-of-upton-park/#IDComment52276734 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/15/breaking-sky-reports-agreement-reached-with-sullivan/#IDComment52237574 This sounds more and more like a Gilbert & Sullivan soap opera than a buy/sell of our great club. Gilbert, who wrote the words, created fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds for these operas, where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion—fairies rub elbows with British lords, flirting is a capital offence, gondoliers ascend to the monarchy, and pirates turn out to be noblemen who have gone wrong. Seems like “The Gondoliers” fits the bill nicely, plot summary as follows: The two Gondoliers, Marco (Sullivan) and Giuseppe (Gold), are so handsome and have such winning ways that they have completely turned the heads of the pretty contadine (CB Holdings). Marco and Giuseppe are nonplussed as to whom to choose as their brides (bring in Brady or keep Duxbury?). They decide to solve the problem by allowing themselves to be blindfolded, whilst the contadine and their superfluous gondolier admirers (TF, Cellini and Intermarket) dance round Marco and Giuseppe. In the ensuing game Marco catches Gianetta (Duxbury), and Giuseppe, Tessa (Brady). The remaining contadine accept their fate and pair off with the previously ignored gondolieri (Straumur). They all run off merrily to get married. I hope I’m wrong, as I think The Mikado would be a far better bet (Plot: Disguised as a traveling musician (have you read the biopic of Fernandes?), Nanki-Poo met and fell in love with Yum-Yum (CB Holdings), the young ward of Ko-Ko (Straumur), a cheap tailor in the town of Titipu (aka Upton Park). Yum-Yum, however, was already betrothed to her guardian (Gold Sullivan), and Nanki-Poo left Titipu in despair. Just about sums up the last 7 days I think! Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:26:53 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/15/breaking-sky-reports-agreement-reached-with-sullivan/#IDComment52237574 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/13/fernandes-in-pole-position/#IDComment51838993 and add Davenport Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:37:09 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/13/fernandes-in-pole-position/#IDComment51838993 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/11/7-take-a-leaf-out-of-greenwoods-book/#IDComment51702411 I've decided from reading all these posts that the Sullivan/Gold bid should be labelled either Sullid or Sold (as in "up the river") if they get their hands on the club. Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:01:01 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2010/01/11/7-take-a-leaf-out-of-greenwoods-book/#IDComment51702411 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/12/16/i-have-faith-in-zola/#IDComment47450748 Good post Iain. I think that Mr. Zola had a plan for the season that was contingent upon having Boa Morte on the left and Behrami on the right of midfield. These two were real workhorses last season; they got up and down the flanks and also provided the necessary cover for the full backs. They might not have provided the goals but they did provide the support that made the likes of Ilunga, and even Neil at times, look good. Losing Behrami for most of this season has left an inexperienced new right back without cover. By playing a left-footer on the right (Diamanti) that gets forward well but naturally cuts inside, it automatically leaves the flank exposed to counter-attack (the Burnley game is a great example, but not the only one). Similarly, losing Boa Morte before this season started and then playing Stanislas on the left has exposed Ilunga to the same. Stanislas is lightweight and inexperienced, especially at defending. That is why I believe Ilunga is not looking the player that he was last season. Premiership sides see this and adjust accordingly. When both Behrami and Ilunga were playing (and with Neil at right back) we were very sound defensively but did wonder where the goals were going to come from. I think that the original plan was for Diamanti to play upfront off Cole. However, Boa Morte’s injury and Behrami’s failure to recover quickly from his ACL injury has blown plan A out of the water. What’s the way forward? I think that we need an experienced right back, but otherwise (assuming Upson fit) the rest of the back four are ok. We just need a settled back four to play together and act as a cohesive unit. Midfield, Parker is obvious, and I personally think that the sooner Noble is back the better. That leaves the two wide spots. I’ll assume that Behrami is also getting fit for the right so I think we need someone experienced (and not lightweight) on the left. Collison is a possibility, as he does understand defensive duties far better than Stanislas, but is still a bit lightweight. Upfront (again, once fit) Cole picks himself and I would give a free role to Diamanti. That suggests to me that we do not need to panic buy, but just need a right back and a left-sided midfield player – and to get the others fit. My team going forward (with cover) would be: Green (Kurucz) New RB (Spector) Tomkins (de Costa) Upson (Gabbidon) Ilunga (Daprela) Behrami (Faubert) Parker (Kovac) Noble (Collison) New LMF (Stanislas) Diamanti (Dyer) Cole (Franco) However, the immediate problem is Sunday and Chelsea. I’d go with: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Upson (if fit, or Gabbidon), Ilunga, Behrami (if fit, or Faubert), Parker, Noble, Collison, Diamanti, Franco. We play the top six (and Liverpool – lol) away in the second half of the season so need to string together a series of victories at home. Let’s start with Chelsea! Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:32:32 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/12/16/i-have-faith-in-zola/#IDComment47450748 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/12/12/vote-player-performances-v-birmingham/#IDComment47011547 I have been reading with interest for many, many months now the, frequently diverse, opinions on the team’s performance as well as that of the individual players and the overall Management Team. I’ve often found myself nodding in agreement at some of the comments, and also at times violently disagreeing with others. One thing that I have noticed is that (nearly) everyone that posts cares passionately about the club and has a genuine desire to see the club succeed. However, it is the very word “success” that seems to cause the heartache; for some, success is qualifying for Europe, for others success is (or will be for this season at least) staying in the Premiership, whilst for others still success is doing the double over Spurs. When everyone (at least, I think it was everyone) embraced the appointment of Mr Zola with open arms last year we all, de facto, bought into the 5-year plan that went with him. My first post on this forum is therefore a plea: please be patient and look to the medium-term future, whilst recognising the need for survival in the here and now. We must support the team at Upton Park in the remaining home games as passionately as I remember we used to do on a wet December evening in the chicken run days – something that is lacking at the moment I feel. Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:48:00 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2009/12/12/vote-player-performances-v-birmingham/#IDComment47011547